A WORD A DAY.

Southland Times, Issue 21771, 28 July 1932, Page 8

A WORD A DAY.

SPOONERISM. This is defined as “the unintentional transposition of sounds and letters, or of parts of words in forming sentences: attributed to nervous tension. So called from William A. Spooner, Warden of New College, Oxford, England, to whom the practise is commonly attributed.” A loyal British subject, Professor Spooner, carried away by his enthusiasm, once called for “Three cheers for our queer old dean,” when he meant “Three cheers for our dear old Queen. ’ On another occasion he is said to have protested to a young undergraduate whom he was reprimanding, “Sir, you have tasted a whole worm,” which may not have been a very pleasant experience for the young man until he realized that he was being reproved for “haying wasted a whole term.” It was not a jumping bean of which Dr. Spooner spoke when he was accused of asking “Is the bean dizzy?” No, it was merely his polite way of inquiring whether the Dean of the College was busy. Also, Dr. Spooner was charged with scoring his class for “hissing my mystery lectures.” What he might have done was to score them for “missing his history lectures.” But perhaps the most mischievous quiddity that was concocted at the sedate Oxford professor’s expense was “I have found such a nice nosey little cook.” All these bons' mots, if one may so term them, have been reported in the Press. But, notwithstanding Press reports, Dr. Spooner was guilty of making only one of the many Spoonerisms credited to him. In the early yart of 1879, Dr. Spooner, who was both churchman and scholar, stood up in his pulpit and announced a hymn the title of which he gave as “Kinkering Kongs Their Titles Take.” There was a hush, but the Doctor calmly repeated the words. There was a burst of laughter: Dr. Spooner realized his mistake and corrected it—“ Conquering Kings Their Titles Take.” ■ The Spoonerisms that were subsequently formed were the joint work of the Rev. Z.rthur Sharp and Mr Robert Seton, the Recorder of Devizes. Among the many quiddities that these brilliant young men credited to the Doctor were the statements that he was “going from London to Oxford by the town drain," and that “it was kistomary to cuss the bride.”